If you’re looking to replace traditional breadcrumbs with a Paleo bread crumb substitute, I’ve got you covered. Today we’re going to look at several options including commercial bread crumbs and bread crumbs you can make at home. Both can give your favorite foods a nice crunch and add flavour as well.
Remember, following a Paleo (or grain-free) diet doesn’t mean you’ll be going without all of the classics and comfort foods. It just means we need to be creative and have some elbow grease ready to use.
Commercial Paleo Breadcrumb Substitutes
First up: pork rinds! Many who follow a Paleo diet, gluten-free diet, or low-carb diet have gushed about how great pork rinds are are as breadcrumb substitute. To use pork rinds, you’ll need a food processor. Technically, you could pull this off with a mallet (or crushing with a rolling pin), but for the sake of creating evenly sized breadcrumbs, a food processor is a better option.
If you search online, you may be able to find pre-ground pork rinds, but be sure to price them out gram for gram (or ounce for ounce). Make sure you’re not being charged an arm and a leg for a convenience you could easily do yourself.
Another great option is Nut Crumbs. They sell bread crumb alternatives made from nuts. They offer a range of flavours and these can provide a wonderful crunchy texture.
One of my personal favourite brands, Paleo Powder, happens to also sell a good alternative for traditional bread crumbs. Here’s the great thing about this brand: they sell Paleo bread crumb substitutes, but they ALSO sell versions that are AIP Paleo compliant. Honestly, the AIP Paleo crowd has so few commercial options to being with, so it’s exciting to see a brand make sure that this segment of people have an option as well.
Creative Paleo Bread Crumbs
You may find that the commercial options for Paleo, Keto, or grain free bread crumbs is more than you’re willing to pay. Or perhaps you only need a small amount right now and don’t have time to wait for a delivery (most are hard to come by in grocery stores). Here are some creative ingredients that can be used as a bread crumb. However, make sure you manage your expectations. These are not the same as proper bread crumbs and may not work in every recipe.
Grain Free Tortilla Chips (or Potato Chips): You can crush these and use them as a bread crumb substitute. Chips work best with baked foods rather than deep fried. This recipe for a cereal chicken tender is a good example of how you’d use this type of substitute. You can also use these in a shake and bake type of application.
Coconut Flakes: If you’re a fan of coconut flavour, this can be used as faux bread crumb in some situations. A great way to use coconut flakes is with shrimp and other sea food. You may have better results with a baked item rather than a deep fried item.
Using Flour as a Coating
You may be wondering if Paleo flours can be used as a coating in fried foods. The great news is: yes, they can be. In fact, one of the best meals I ever made my kids was a fried pork with a simple arrowroot coating. They legit thought it was the meal of the month (and I made a lot of different foods).
Paleo flours such as cassava flour, coconut flour, and arrowroot are each a great alternative to wheat flour when a simple coating is being used.
Some Paleo flours such as tiger nut flour (tuber, not a tree nut) don’t work as well as a coating, but can be used as a filler in meatballs.
Making Delicious Blends at Home
If you’re going to try your hand at making Paleo bread crumbs at home, have fun with the project. When I make bread crumbs at home, I start with stale bread if I have some available, and line a baking sheet (also called a baking tray) with parchment paper. I bake the bread (slices or cubes) in the oven until it’s very dry and toasty. The bake time will vary depending on the size of your bread.
Once the bread has cooled, I transfer it to my food processor, and this is where the fun happens. You can add in all sorts of additional dry ingredients to create amazing flavour in your bread crumbs. Here are some ideas:
- Nutritional Yeast
- Parmesan Cheese (I use a dairy free version since one of my kids is allergic to milk)
- Italian Seasoning
- BBQ Dry Rub
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg
I pulse my food processor until a nice coarse texture forms. You don’t want to over-pulse or you’ll end up with a superfine powder which is not the same thing as bread crumbs. A homemade blend like this can be used in place of breadcrumbs in just about any recipe you’re following.
When I make blends like these, I love to use them for shake and bake style recipes. Many of those call for regular breadcrumbs and a blend like this can absolutely serve as a delicious crunchy coating.
Paleo Bread Crumbs for Chicken Nuggets
If you’re looking to make grain free chicken nuggets at home, you have quite a few options for bread crumbs. I’ve personally had great results with grain free/paleo pretzels and with Vegify. When I use the pretzels, I crush them, mix some into the meat mixture, and also roll the meat through the pretzels to form a coating on the outside.
You can also use my other suggestions for Paleo, Keto, gain free, low carb, and gluten free chicken nuggets. Nut Crumbs, Paleo Powder, and pork rinds would all be excellent substitutes in place of the bread crumbs called for in most traditional recipes.
Answering Your Paleo Bread Crumb Questions
If I have a Paleo/gluten-free bread, can I use that to make breadcrumbs at home?
Yes! Making Paleo bread crumbs at home may be easier than you think. Start by drying your bread in the oven. You’ll want it to be like a crouton. Once it’s cooled, use your food processor and pulse the bread until you have the crumb size you’re aiming for. Avoid over-processing as this will make a fine powder instead of a bread crumb.
Will Paleo bread crumbs work as a batter for chicken tenders?
Yes! Depending on your bread crumb, you may have more success with a baked chicken tender rather than fried chicken tenders. Try both ways and see which results you prefer. I’ve made chicken tenders with Paleo bread crumbs and gluten free bread crumbs they’ve always turned out well.
Do you know of a Paleo and Keto substitute for bread crumbs?
I sure do! The brand Nut Crumbs that I shared above is the trifecta many need: Gluten Free, Paleo, and Keto diet friendly. Their website has several options for Paleo and Keto breadcrumbs including an Italian flavoured crumb.
Will Paleo bread crumbs work for a traditional dry-wet-dry method of frying?
Most Paleo bread crumbs should work with the traditional dry-wet-dry method. I have two big tips for you. First, fry right away. Don’t allow the food to sit uncooked. This will help prevent your bread crumbs from going soggy.
Second, and this applies to deep frying, gently place the battered food into the fryer to make sure the coating sticks. Sometimes, if you just drop it straight in, the coating may have trouble sticking. If you instead hold it with tongs or your hand and gently lower it in before fully releasing, the outcome can be better.
Would almond flour work as a Paleo bread crumb?
No, almond flour, sometimes called almond meal, would not work as a Paleo bread crumb substitute. However, you could use the almond flour to make a proper Paleo bread, then proceed to make your own bread crumbs at home from that bread.
Know this as well: whilst it’s not a bread crumb substitute, it can still be used as a coating. If you’ve ever seen super simple fried foods that have a water + salt + flour type of batter, almond flour/almond meal can work. If you’re deep frying, you’ll even have a bit of crisp. Just remember to manage your expectations.
Can I make panko breadcrumbs using Paleo bread?
Yes, you absolutely can. This article shares more information on panko bread crumbs and details how you can make them at home. You’ll use your Paleo bread in place of the gluten free bread I talk about.
Would flax seeds work as a bread crumb substitute?
No, flax seeds aren’t a great substitute for bread crumbs. Now, I say that because of the texture and flavour. In terms of function, flax seeds and flax meal might be able to work in some applications. If for some reason this is the absolute only option you have in your life, I’d suggest taking ground flax meal, spicing it up with garlic powder and other seasonings, and using it as a dry coating to bake with (think shake and bake). Just be sure to manage your expectations because flax seeds aren’t close to bread crumbs at all.
Can I use my air fryer to make Paleo bread crumbs at home?
In theory, yes. I’ve never tried it, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. You’d use the air fryer in place of your oven to dry out the bread. Start with a 5 minute cook time to get a feel for how much time the bread will need to completely dry out in the air fryer. Once the bread is dry, allow it to cool, then process in your food processor or blender into breadcrumbs.
If a recipe calls for a cup of breadcrumbs, what would the best substitute be?
Assuming we’re talking about a meatball recipe or meatloaf recipe, I’d go with the Paleo Powder style breadcrumbs. They’ll give you the closest experience to traditional bread crumbs where function is concerned.
If we’re talking about topping casseroles, I’d go with nut based crumbs or pork rind style crumbs. Though, that would be a lot of breadcrumbs on top of a casserole… I’m going to keep assuming we’re talking meatballs or meatloaf 🙂
How should I store homemade breadcrumbs?
You’ll want to store them in an airtight container. This could be a mason jar with an airtight lid, a freezer Ziploc bag with the air removed, or a glass airtight container that you have with a matching lid. Your bread crumbs can be stored like regular bread: on your counter for a few days or in your refrigerator for an extended amount of time.
You can also freeze homemade breadcrumbs for an extended shelf-life. If you opt for the freezer, make sure the container size is a single portion for what you’d want to use in the future. This way, you don’t have to thaw and refreeze your leftover bread crumbs.
Either way, the best part about bread crumbs if you ask me is their long shelf-life. It’s essentially stale, super dried bread, and it can be stored for months on end before going bad.
Would chopped almonds be a good Paleo bread crumb substitute?
Depending on the dishes and recipes you’re working with, they could work. Rather than use chopped almonds which can sometimes be on the larger side/large chunks, use your food processor to pulse the almonds until they resemble a panko breadcrumb.
How can I add more flavor to my breadcrumbs?
There are a few things you can do to add more flavor. Here are my top suggestions:
- Add a smoked salt to your homemade breadcrumbs.
- Add a pinch (or more if you love it) of black pepper to your bread crumbs.
- If you like spicy food, add in some chipotle powder or cayenne pepper to your breadcrumbs.
- Add one of your favorite seasoning blends to your breadcrumbs (Italian seasoning, BBQ seasoning, taco seasoning, etc.)
- For savory dishes, garlic salt or herbs de province would be a great addition to your bread crumbs for an extra flavor boost.
Hopefully something here sounds good to you. The key takeaway is to add dried herbs, spices, and seasonings to your breadcrumbs to really help them stand out.
Which bread crumb substitute would work best for a Paleo meatloaf recipe?
A good substitute for breadcrumbs in a meatloaf are the Paleo Powder breadcrumbs. That’s because they’ll replace the function of traditional bread crumbs in that situation the best. The same is true when you’re making a meatball recipe with any type of protein. The way those breadcrumbs can help bind and affect moisture is what makes them stand out.
Would Paleo breadcrumbs taste good on a salad? Like a crouton replacement?
Some of them would, but not all of them. If you’re making homemade bread crumbs, I’d suggest making croutons at the same time. It’s a pretty easy process, and you can look up simple recipes for this.
If you’re going with a commercial breadcrumb, the nut based crumbs and pork based crumbs are going to add the best flavor to your salad. If you use a cauliflower based breadcrumb, or one that’s on the small side, it will give you a weird texture and mouthfeel when added to a salad.
If you’d like to save a little money, you can pulse nuts in your food processor and get them to a nice size and use that on top of your salad as well.
Are sesame seeds or chia seeds a good substitute for bread crumbs?
No, neither sesame seeds or chia seeds would be a good substitute for bread crumbs. Now, if those are your only options due to food allergies, you could use them in a pinch but you’re really have to manage your expectations.
Sesame seeds are better as a garnish as their flavor can be pretty powerful in large amounts. For example, a ground beef meatloaf recipe might call for a cup of bread crumbs. That much sesame seeds would not taste very nice. However, sesame seeds sprinkled all over the top of your meatloaf would be delicious, especially if paired with an Asian-leaning sauce.
Chia seeds are super special because of how they absorb liquids. They wouldn’t work so well in most recipes, and may throw off the balance of your recipe. Like sesame seeds, you could sprinkle them on top of something dry (so they don’t gel up) so add a little something to the recipe.
If I were forced to choose one of these for a grain-free meatball recipe or meatloaf, I’d go with chia seed meal (not seeds). It’s going to behave more like a traditional breadcrumb and provide binding and hold moisture.
What would be a good substitute for breadcrumbs on top of casseroles?
If you’re looking for a crispy topping for your casseroles, I’d suggest the nut based breadcrumb substitutes or the pork rind style substitutes. These will deliver a great crunch and texture to your casseroles.
Are store-bought gluten-free breadcrumbs Paleo?
Usually, no, they won’t be paleo. Most store-bought gluten-free breadcrumbs contain rice flour and other gluten-free flours that aren’t suitable for a Paleo diet. You’d need to specifically look for Paleo (or grain-free) breadcrumbs. Honestly, even at the organic/natural/Co-Op stores I frequent, this isn’t a common item. I’ve had the best luck ordering Paleo breadcrumbs online.
